Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-28
THE RETALIAT0RY BILL
PASSES THE SENATE WITH ONLY ON
OPPOSING VOTE.
The Bill is Very Fully Discussed by Sena-
tors Edmunds, Ingalls,, Frye, Hoar,
Hale, Morgan, Vest and German
Riddleberger Its Only Opponent.

L. 4.
proceeded to the consideration of tin Sen
ATE OIL To authorize the president to pro
tect and defend the rights of American
hshlng vessels, American fishermen.
American trading and other vessels in Ger
tam cases. Mr. Frye suggested to Mr.. Ed
munds that the words "also if he think
proper" should be omitted before the
words authorizing the president to deny
the entry of fish from Canada MIR Ed
munds consented and they were striker
out Mr.. Hoar suggested the insertion of
the words "or unjustly veXed or harlssed
tnereln by the authorities thereof He
thought the blll would be much safer If it
contained mat general phraseOlOgy. Mr.
ingalls, thought these fishing difficulties
must be ultimately settled either by nego-
tlatlon or by war. This measure was dis
tinCtlvely one OF retaliation. 1t was an eve
for an eye, tooth for a tooth, a fish Tor
fish, an Insult tor an insult a wrong for
a wrong. He thought it important before
the Sehdte was called upon to vote that
the committee on foreign relations shou d
ADVISE the Seuate whether this measure
was intended 10 he pacific or hostile ;
Wnether II was IN effect an invitation to ne
Rotiate or practically declaration OF war
lie quoted some sentences from the report
Oh lue committee and remarked that
countries had been inundated with blood
on less provOcatiun. The conduct of the
Dominion ANA of Great Britain WAS sutIi-
Gent To Justify aud warrant "a declaration
OF war on The part of the United States
III was violation not only OF treaty rights
out IL showed purpose on the part of
the government OF Canada and of her ma
Jesty,s government to haras. and annoy
ana destroy the American fishing inter
es6 slulpiS Tor the purpose either
OF private gam or of some public Hdyau-
tage. lie thought it would be more IN
accordance with the dignity OF the SUB
Ject aud with morality, which ought to
prevail among nations rs among men. to
declare AS the conviction OF the senate
that the relations between the two powers
are Such as to require NEGOTIATIONS and
that there should be aui hority nor to
Issue letters OF marque and reprisal but
10 select commission to consider the
subject aud II possible to reach some basis
OF understanding petween Great Britain,
Canada and the United States in REGARD
to the fisheries
Mr. Frye SAID that Mr. Ingalls, seemed
\ to forget that Canada was playing the
&sane role now which she had plan I'd t., ICc
belore. she play it fov but ON. pa
pose ana mat WAS to secure ucgotiullui,-
\ Tor reciprocal Treaties and these Reciprocal
\treaties had turntd out to the disadvau-
Wage or the United States and to thu adj
anta2e OF taueda. ne believed ii to BE-
Ii duty 10 the group of uutrageS wi lie .
al been committed 10y Canada within
e last SlX months to take a strong posi-
Pn and then he would let the senator
pm Kansas, MIR In&alls, say whether or
1t ne Thought. The United States ought
resort, al once, 10 uegutiation
III the presIdt'.l were Tomorrow to take
advantage Ui Inns bill which would
tuhorlz nm To close American ports
against Canadian fish, that, he believed
would end an thr trouble. Canada would
stop het "ulIaEeS. Frye proceeded to
\particu ailze many of the outrages to
which AL American fishing vessels had
oeeu subjected III Canadian waters.
famous u EN- WHH case of the American
vessel which h,ol brought INTO a Canadian
port Ii ~hln"r' ckrd Canadian sailors ana
han peeh refused the ilght to purchase !,
barrel OF Hour /" keep her crew from
starvation. he declared hat the annals
or history. ~ OF the Fiji Islands.
might be seat ch,d without fiuding a case
50 hrnt'l ana 80 'nhuman. Frye quoted
rom l"' recent statute passed
by the Dominion government in
stan further Hostility to American
fishermen ard sad that that legislation
had been approved 10y the British govern
ment. In hope therefore that Great
Britain would do ~ hat was fair and lust
was DESTROYED. There was not a line in
the history OF Great Britain for the last
800 years that gave the reason to believe
pursuit OF trade she would ever permit
the rights OF an her to stand IN the way
OF her prugrt 8. But the American peo-
pie knew that hey were sixty millions.
they knew they We're the richest nation
of the earth, they knew they had nowpI
ana they would not humiliate themselves
by resortlng TO little miserable tricks and
outrages by way of retaliation What
the committee on foreign relations sought
was thHt the president should be empOw-
cred to close American ports against any
fisherman or all fishermen, against any
merchant vessel or allamerchant vessels.
pa" no ODJtctloh 10 entruStng this power
TO MN. lie believed the president would
only have TO take advantage OF this bill TO
issue ms Proclamation that no fish or pro
duct OF the Canadian fisheries shall be
landtd IN any OF our ports and no other
heard of.
Mr.. Frye added that the Amercau
minister TO England, Mr.. Phelps, had
made an unexceptlonably clear, complete
and 10 MN, entirely satisfactory state
heht OF the Whoit case. This law he said
han power III 1t He believed the presi
DEM had at heart the honor and diguit 4
oil the great republic over which he pre-
sided. He believed If this law were pas sed
the power which it would put into his
hands would be used for the protection of
American rights.
-u J. lHGdIlS Sdltl LldJ one OBJECT which
ne had in view had been accomplished.
lie had desired 10 ascertain, if possible,
the purpose and intention of the commit
Tee on foreign relations. He understood
from the statement of the senator from
maine, Mr.. Frye, that If this bin became
Jaw II was declaration to Great Brit
am that she wOnld continue these prac
tices at her peril.
Mr. Eumunds-"Th does not neces,
sarlly follows
Mr.. ingalls, said statements of facts
mace py the senator from Maine constitu-
ted cds4S bettt under the Law of nations
the continuance Of amicable intercourse
possible. ~ ''''
Mr.. Edmunds asked Mr.. Inpalls
whether he meant to say that ann act
when the people of the United States
might consider violation Of treaty was
necessarily a casus belli was
Mr.. lnRalls-"l mean to say that declar.
ed and avowed and continued Violations
law are casus bclli."
Mr.. Edmunds-"Any international VIC